Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Medical Ethics among Medical Graduates and Post Graduates in a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital in Navi Mumbai

Authors

  • Haris Rajan Senior Resident, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, D Y Patil School of Medicine, Navi Mumbai, India.
  • Swati Sonawane Professor and Head, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, D Y Patil School of Medicine, Navi Mumbai, India.
  • Shashmira B Tonse Associate Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, DY Patil School of Medicine; Navi Mumbai, India
  • Cherian Philemon Kurian Associate Professor Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology MGM Medical College, Vashi, Navi Mumbai

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37506/kkh38h65

Keywords:

KAP Study, Medical Ethics, Ethical Dilemmas, Paternalism

Abstract

Introduction: This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices of medical ethics among the medical graduates and post-graduates of a tertiary care teaching hospital.

Materials & Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted after approval from the ethics committee. A structured questionnaire containing 25 multiple-choice questions relating to medical ethics was validated, pre-tested, and distributed using Google Forms. A total of 262 students participated in the study. The data was entered into an EXCEL sheet and statistical analysis was performed with the help of SPSS version 21.0 and SAS version 9.0.

Results & Conclusion: The study covered 262 students, of whom 52.3% were post-graduates and 47.7% were interns, with a female predominance. The survey revealed a notable deficiency in doctors’ understanding of medical ethics, indicating potential gaps in their knowledge of ethical principles. Encouragingly, the survey also demonstrated a positive attitude among doctors towards the importance of medical ethics, suggesting their willingness to engage constructively with moral concerns.

The study concluded that a lack of adequate knowledge of medical ethics and a favourable disposition toward medical ethics. Addressing their insufficient knowledge is imperative to enable them to effectively navigate ethical challenges and deliver the highest quality of care to their patients.

Author Biographies

  • Haris Rajan, Senior Resident, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, D Y Patil School of Medicine, Navi Mumbai, India.

    Senior Resident, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, D Y Patil School of Medicine, Navi Mumbai, India.

  • Swati Sonawane, Professor and Head, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, D Y Patil School of Medicine, Navi Mumbai, India.

    Professor and Head, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, D Y Patil School of Medicine, Navi Mumbai, India.

  • Shashmira B Tonse, Associate Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, DY Patil School of Medicine; Navi Mumbai, India

     

    Associate Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, DY Patil School of Medicine; Navi Mumbai, India

  • Cherian Philemon Kurian, Associate Professor Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology MGM Medical College, Vashi, Navi Mumbai

    Associate Professor Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology MGM Medical College, Vashi, Navi Mumbai

References

Catherine Soanes (editor). The Compact Oxford Reference Dictionary. Oxford University Press;2001[c16]

Akoijam Brogen, Bishwalata Rajkumari, Jalina Laishram,Akoijam Joy. Knowledge and attitudes of doctors on medical ethics in a teaching hospital, Manipur. Indian Journal of Medical Ethics Vol VI No 4 October - December 2009

Akoijam Brogen, Bishwalata Rajkumari, Jalina Laishram,Akoijam Joy. Knowledge and attitudes of doctors on medical ethics in a teaching hospital, Manipur. Indian Journal of Medical Ethics Vol VI No 4 October - December 2009

Moser RH. A few thoughts about professionalism (editorial). South Med J. 2000; 93:1132-3.

Brennan T, Blank L, Cohen J, Kimball H, Smelser N, Copeland R, et al. Medical professionalism in the new millennium: a physician charter. Ann Intern Med [Internet].2002 Feb 5 [cited 2009 Aug 13]; 136(3):243-6. Available from: http://www.annals.org/cgi/content/full/136/3/243

Ravindran GD. Medical ethics education in India. Indian J Med Ethics. 2008 Jan Mar; 5(1):18- 9.

Gordon M S. Teaching and learning medical ethics and law in UK medical schools. Clin Ethics 5(3):156-158

Ramesh P Aacharya, Yagya L Shakya. Knowledge, attitude and practice of medical ethics among medical intern students in a Medical College in Kathmandu. Bangladesh Journal of Bioethics 2015; 6(3):1-9

A. W. I. P. Ranasinghe, Buddhika F, Sumathipala A and Gunathunga W. Medical ethics: Knowledge, attitude and practice among doctors in three teaching hospitals in Sri Lanka. Ranasinghe et al. BMC Medical Ethics (2020) 21:69

Surjit Singh, Pramod Kumar Sharma, Bharti Bhandari, Rimplejeet Kaur. Knowledge, awareness and practice of ethics among doctors in a tertiary care hospital. Indian Journal of Pharmacology, October 2016, Vol 48.

Hariharan S, Jonnalagadda R, Walrond E, Moseley H. Knowledge, attitudes and practice of healthcare ethics and law among doctors and nurses in Barbados. BMC Med Ethics. 2006 Jun 9; 7:E7.

Walrond ER, Jonnalagadda R, Hariharan S, Moseley HS. Knowledge, attitudes and practice of medical students at the Cave Hill Campus in relation to ethics and law in healthcare. West Indian Med J. 2006 Jan; 55(1):42-7.

Downloads

Published

2026-01-29

How to Cite

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Medical Ethics among Medical Graduates and Post Graduates in a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital in Navi Mumbai. (2026). Indian Journal of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, 20(1), 98-103. https://doi.org/10.37506/kkh38h65